'Providence, RI-  The Keene State College softball team dropped a pair of Little East Conference games to Rhode Island College, 2-1 and 9-3, in Providence, R.I. on Thursday afternoon. 

With the loss, the Owls (24-10, 9-3 LEC) drop to second in the conference.  RIC has now won ten consecutive games and is unbeaten in its last 18 contests. The Anchorwomen have now matched the program record for wins in a season with 28. In the two wins, RIC sophomore first baseman Christie Lotti (Waterford, CT) went a combined 4-for-8, a single, double, triple and homer, with five runs scored and one run batted in.

In game one, the Anchorwomen needed extra innings to get the win. Lotti led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double and was sacrificed to third by junior catcher Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, MA). Sophomore designated player Krystal Bilek (Fitchburg, MA) then laid down a bunt which allowed Lotti to score the winning run. RIC junior pitcher Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) went the distance giving up one run to record her 19th (19-2) win of the season. Owl sophomore pitcher Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, NH) went the first six innings before giving way to junior Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, RI) who was saddled with the loss (9-3). Lotti scored both of RIC's runs while Keene State sophomore designated player Melissa Scata (Medway, MA) collected the only Owl run batted in.

RIC controlled game two from the start as a five-run bottom of the fourth inning broke open the game. In the inning, senior second baseman Casie Lyons (Hudson, MA), senior left fielder Katie Benevides (North Dighton, MA) and Lotti each reached base. Alexander then scored each of them with a base-clearing double, making the score 7-2. That hit was followed by back-to-back doubles by Bilek and senior right fielder Andree Sitnik (Lincoln, RI) giving RIC freshman Justine Burgess (Uxbridge, MA) a 9-2 lead en route to her eighth (8-5) win of the season. Fuoroli started game two for the Owls, giving up four runs in just one and two-thirds innings to take her second loss of the day (9-4).

Jenna Patnode (Swanzey, N.H.) collected a hit and two RBI and Amanda Foote (Hudson, N.H.) had two hits to lead the Owls. 

In upcoming action, KSC will close out the regular season with a doubleleader against the University of Southern Maine on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Owl Athletic Complex.  RIC will close out the regular season with a doubleheader at LEC rival Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, Apr. 29 at 1 p.m.

(Courtesy of RIC Sports Information)